![]() ![]() In Pakistan, vaccine distrust strengthened after the US government created a fake Hepatitis B vaccine program in an attempt to collect DNA evidence while searching for Osama bin Laden. A recent Lancet survey found that higher percentages of respondents with no recent vaccination history were associated with lower trust in national government.ĭistrust in the system can also vary among specific communities within a nation. It is also linked to distrust in the system - be it the government or the public health system. Last year, Facebook and YouTube announced that they would remove false claims about the COVID-19 vaccine that have been debunked by public health experts, a move that aimed to help stem the spread of false claims that deter immunization efforts. In the age of social media, misinformation spreads like wildfire. Whether it’s twisted truths, downright lies, or conspiracy theories, misinformation about vaccines has played a big role in reducing public trust and confidence in the immunization process. The spread of misinformation is a main driver of vaccine hesitancy, Lazarus said. This reluctance or refusal to vaccinate can stem from religious beliefs, fear of needles, lack of confidence, and more. People who are vaccine hesitant are those who delay the acceptance of or refuse vaccines despite availability of vaccination services, according to the WHO. Measles, for instance, saw a 30% spike in cases globally from 2016 to 2017, causing a resurgence in some countries that were close to eliminating it altogether. However, should generations become complacent about getting vaccinated, infection and deaths could easily rise. Vaccination is one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to ward off disease - it currently prevents 2 to 3 million deaths a year. Anthony Fauci said last December.īut fighting vaccine hesitancy isn’t just specific to the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 70% to 90% of the population will likely need to be vaccinated against the virus in order to achieve herd immunity and halt transmission, US infectious disease expert Dr. This data doesn’t bode well for plans to develop herd immunity against COVID-19. In eight of the countries, including Canada, Singapore, Nigeria, and France, less than 70% of the population responded positively. In a global survey led by Lazarus that looked at potential COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates in 19 countries, respondents from China gave the highest number (89%) of positive responses when asked if they would take a “proven, safe, and effective vaccine,” while respondents in Russia gave the lowest number (55%) of positive responses. Next to the challenges of producing enough supply to vaccinate everyone and distributing available doses equitably, a major barrier to ending the COVID-19 pandemic is convincing people to actually get the vaccine once it’s available. Why is it important to address vaccine hesitancy? “Since taxpayers are paying for health care, there are a lot of good reasons to keep the population healthy, and vaccines are relatively inexpensive and extremely safe.” “If people don’t get vaccinated, not only can they get infected, but they can transmit deadly infectious diseases,” Jeffrey Lazarus, head of health systems research at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), told Global Citizen. One of the best ways to stop transmission of the deadly virus, while minimizing fatalities, is to immunize the global population with COVID-19 vaccines. While Google and YouTube have endeavored to tackle this disinformation through fact-checking, content moderation and policy changes - groups peddling pandemic-related falsehoods and misinformation have still managed to thrive and even achieve “financial viability and success” using Google and its vast advertising network, according to research from Oxford Internet Institute.The current global health crisis has killed more than 2 million people, infected more than 100 million, and impacted the lives of most people around the world, regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic status. ![]() election-related falsehoods and conspiracy theories such as QAnon, which postulates that Donald Trump is waging a secret war against a global pedophile ring of Satan-worshiping Democrats, celebrities and billionaires. Google and YouTube, which are both owned by parent company Alphabet, have struggled to control the rampant misinformation that proliferates on their platforms, much of which has occurred alongside U.S. Key BackgroundĪs the dominant online search engine, Google is a key gateway to information about the coronavirus pandemic, vaccines and treatment. Applications will be assessed by a team of 14 “Googlers” from around the world and are open to news organizations of all sizes “that have a proven track record in fact-checking and debunking activities” or those partnering with such an organization. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |